5 easy hobbies that give your brain a workout without leaving the sofa

Five sofa-friendly hobbies — puzzles, knitting, musical activities, singing and visual arts — are described as linked to brain benefits through neuroplasticity and reduced stress.

Hobbies that can be done from a sofa are described as ways to stimulate the brain and support cognitive health. The article notes that people aged 65 and over who have hobbies report higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction. It explains that practising or learning skills strengthens neural connections through a process known as neuroplasticity. The piece highlights puzzles, knitting, learning an instrument, singing and visual arts as examples of low‑effort activities with potential mental and emotional benefits. What is known: - People aged 65 and over who have hobbies report higher happiness and life satisfaction. - Neuroplasticity is described as the brain forming and strengthening neural connections when learning or practising skills. - Jigsaw puzzles became more popular during the COVID lockdowns; around a third of UK adults reportedly do puzzles weekly, and a 2018 study in Frontiers in Ageing Neuroscience linked regular jigsaw puzzling with better visuospatial cognition and cognitive reserve. - Knitting saw a revival in the pandemic era, with an estimated one million new knitters in the UK since the pandemic, and a British Journal of Occupational Therapy study found knitters often report feeling calmer and happier. - Musical activities engage multiple brain regions; a 2023 University of Exeter study associated playing an instrument with better memory and problem‑solving in older adults, and the article notes that listening to music has been linked with reduced dementia risk. - Creative visual arts can lower cortisol; a 2016 Art Therapy study found 45 minutes of creative activity significantly reduced cortisol levels regardless of artistic experience. Summary: These sofa-friendly hobbies are presented as activities that may support memory, visuospatial skills, stress reduction and social connection through neuroplasticity and decreased cortisol. Cited research ranges from observational studies to experimental findings. Undetermined at this time.